A long and ugly battle over the Los Angeles Clippers would hurt everyone.

Donald Sterling included.

Sterling's racist views, personal attacks on Magic Johnson and delusional ramblings already have ruined what was left of his image and reputation. Now the scrutiny is turning to his business dealings, and that fallout has the potential to be far more costly. For him and his extended family.

As much as Sterling loves a good fight, a protracted battle for the Clippers only keeps him in the spotlight – and under the microscope. Better to sell now than risk additional revelations of unsavory and unseemly behavior.

A USA TODAY Sports investigation published Saturday found that Los Angeles County records show the property taxes for Sterling's boyhood home and another across the street are still being paid by his grandmother and mother – both long since deceased. Though the properties are now overseen by Sterling's sister, Marilyn Pizante, the return address on the money orders used to pay the property taxes is a building owned by Sterling.

At first glance, that may not seem like a big deal. Properties are handed down from one family member to another all the time – although in the case of these East Los Angeles homes, no will from either woman could be found in available records. And if property changes ownership through the proper channels, California law requires it to be reassessed when the owner dies – and that usually results in higher taxes.

If they were assessed based on their current estimated market value, the combined annual taxes for the properties "owned" by Sterling's mother and grandmother would be at least $13,000. But in 2013, property taxes for the two buildings totaled just $2,148.77, the USA TODAY Sports investigation found.

Since the properties haven't been fully reassessed since 1978, that's a lot of money that Los Angeles County has missed out on. (Just last month, Los Angeles County chief executive officer Bill Fujioka announced that 345,000 homes are to be reassessed as part of the recommended $26 billion budget for 2014-15.)

Now consider that Pizante, Sterling's sister, also has represented herself in court as her and Sterling's mother, Sylvia Tokowitz, according to documents in an eviction case found by USA TODAY Sports and two former tenants.

This is just the first wave. Reporters across the country have been combing through Sterling's life and business since NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned the Clippers owner for life April 29 for the derogatory and racially insensitive comments he made to a girlfriend, V. Stiviano. What else might they find? And who else could be caught up in it?

Sterling and his wife, Shelly, don't fear litigation. Quite the opposite, with a long history in the courtroom as both plaintiffs and defendants. When Sterling moved the Clippers from San Diego to Los Angeles, the NBA fined him $25 million. He sued, then settled the lawsuit and agreed to pay the league $6 million.

The Sterlings have paid out millions in recent years in lawsuits alleging discrimination in his business practices. Instead of divorcing her husband, Shelly Sterling sued his alleged mistresses, including Stiviano, whose recorded conversations with Donald Sterling are what started this latest fiasco.

The tombstone of Sarah Friedman, Donald Sterling's paternal grandmother. Known by her married name, she died in Chicago in 1966, according to Cook County records. An obituary in the Chicago Tribune listed her name as "Sarah Friedman nee Tokowitz" and a son among her survivors, "Louis of Los Angeles." Louis Tokowitz is the father of Donald Sterling and his sister, Marilyn Pizante. An investigation by USA TODAY Sports showed that, according to public records in Los Angeles, Sarah Tokowitz is still the owner of record of Sterling's boyhood home in the Boyle Heights neighborhood and is the name on money orders submitted to pay the property taxes.(Photo: Nancy Armour, USA TODAY Sports)

And Sterling has signaled his intent to fight the NBA's attempts to oust him, telling the league through his attorney that he won't pay the $2.5 million fine levied against him by Commissioner Adam Silver. Shelly Sterling has said she'll fight to keep her share of the Clippers if her husband is forced to sell.

When you're worth an estimated $1.9 billion, going toe to toe over money isn't all that daunting. A few million in fines here, a few million more in legal fees there, yet more millions lost in sponsorship revenue – that's pocket change.

But what if scrutiny of Sterling leads to trouble, legal or otherwise, for someone close to him? His sister, perhaps. Or one of his children. Or the wife he claims to be so sorry for hurting. The risk is simply too great, even for someone as arrogant and self-absorbed as Sterling.

One way or another, the NBA will win the fight for the Clippers. By dragging it out, Sterling might wind up being the one who pays.

GALLERY: Donald Sterling through the years

Longtime Clippers owner Donald Sterling, shown in 2010, has been banned by the NBA. Flip through this gallery for more of Sterling. (Photo: Mark J. Terrill, AP)

Sterling and former GM Elgin Baylor pose after Baylor, who later sued the team for wrongful termination, won the 2005-06 NBA Executive of the Year Award. (Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein, NBAE/Getty Images)